Finishing of woven fabrics



Oct. 2, 1951 A. MELVILLE FINISHING OF WOVEN FABRICS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1947 (HM H INVENTOR" Oct 2, 1951 A. MELVILLE 2,569,897

FINISHING OF WOVEN FABRICS Filed Aug. 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 9' i l6 l 20 20b iaiigizifiiiimnnnnn nnnnnnrr V VI 20a 4 INVENTOR. u r 3 1951 A. MELVILLE 2,569,897

FINISHING OF WOVEN FABRICS Filed Aug. 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 FINISHING F WOVEN FABRICS Alexander Melville, Southport, England,

signor to Bleachers Association Limited, Manchester, England, a British company Application August 22, 1947, Serial No. 770,149 In Great Britain August 29, 1946 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the fabrics.

The process is also applicable to linen, rayon, fibre, natural silk, or woolen fabrics.

In the finishing of cotton fabrics, the usual calendering and similar machines flatten both the weft and warp threads and although this produces a bright or shining appearance due to the glaze produced on the whole surface, the characteristic appearance of the weaving is to some extent destroyed. This is undesirable in very many cases, for example in the types of fabric known as poplins, cambrics etc. In the case of these fabrics having a characteristic weave it would be more desirable to retain or even enhance their weave characteristics.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of treating woven textile material which consists in applying substantial pressure thereto by means of a resilient comb like formation relative to which said material is moved while supporting said material on a hard base, each blade of the said comb like formation being smooth tipped so as to apply burnishing action to the fabric, the pressure being sufficient to cause the comb like formation to press on to and below the normal surface of the fabric simultaneously.

For the purpose of the specification and claims it is proposed to use the phrase normal surface of a fabric as meaning that part of the fabric which is contacted by a roller rolling on the fabric.

It has now been found that a woven fabric may be made soft and given a high degree of lustre as distinct from glaze, while retaining its weave characteristics or even having its weave characteristics enhanced by applying smoothing pressure or burnishing action between adjacent threads on one or both surfaces of the fabric. The efiect of a calendering machine on a fabric is to apply smoothing pressure to the whole surface of the fabric and accordingly the smoothing action takes place upon those parts of the threads which are outermost on the fabric and tends to flatten them. By applying the smoothing pressure between adjacent threads the lustre isproduced in the channel between the threads. This results in producing a finish in which the characteristic appearance of the original weave is retained or even emphasised while at the same time a distinctive lustre is produced which differs from'xa glaze. Moreover, the fabric is made softer and acquires some of the characteristic scroop of natural silk.

'It has further been found that smoothing pressure can be applied between the adjacent threads of a fabric by bringing the surface of the fabric into contact with a row or series of rows of thin, closely-spaced resilient, smooth ended blades and by moving such blades and fabric relatively to one another. Thus, the blades are caused to slide over the fabric and the size of their smooth ends is such that these can enter the spaces between adjacent threads. In this way a large number of minute polished surfaces is produced below the normal surface of the fabric, namely, in th furrows between adjacent warp threads or between adjacent weft threads according to whether the smooth ended blades move warpwise or weft-wise relatively to the fabric.

Preferably the surface of the fabric is brought into contact with a succession of rows of the thin, closely-spaced, resilient, smooth tipped blades. The spacing of the blades thus need not be critical since if the spaces between any pair of adjacent threads are not entered by one blade they may be entered by a succeeding blade. The pressure applied to the different rows of blades need not be the same. Thus, the fabric may be subiected to the action of successive rows, say six, the pressure exerted by each of which is slightly less than that of the preceding row.

The blades may be moved over the fabric or the fabric may be moved under the blades or both the fabric and blades may be moved simultaneously.

The blades and spaces between them. may be substantially equal in width, and may be spaced at about 5 to about 1000 per lineal inch.

After one side of the fabric has been treated in this way the other side may be similarly treated.

The in ention broadly includes the application of smoothing pressure to a fabric by brin ing the surface of the fabric into friction contact with a pluralitv of thin. closely-spaced, resilient, smooth-ended b ades. It has been found that a valuable fini h is obtained in this way whether the blades travel in t e furrows formed by prominent threads or whether they travel across such furrows. In the latter case the ends of the blades enter successive furrows in travelling over the undulations of the fabric.

The blades are preferably,,mounted on a bar or rod so that each set of blades resemblesin appearance a fine hair comb. The blades are preferably made of polished metal. Stainless steel can be used. Alternatively, they may be made of any other suitable material such as a phenol-formaldehyde synthetic resin. Means may be provided to heat them, if desired, such as electrical heating means. In addition to being resilient, the blades may be resiliently mounted, e. g. in a rubber block, as it is found in practice that the blades move slightly towards and away from one another when in contact with the fabrics and this appears to contribute towards the production of a useful effect. Preferably the blades are inclined, e. g. at an 3 angle of 415- to 75 to the surface of the fabric. The inclination may be such that their tips trail over the fabric, or such that their ends face the oncoming fabric.

During treatment, the fabric is preferably maintained under high tension so as to give a degree of resistance to the action of the blades. It should also be supported on a suitable base such as a surface of metal or hard rubber. It may, for example, be supported on a rotatable cylinder covered with any material the blades being arranged so that the fabric beneath is carried by the cylinder.

During or before treatment, the fabric may be heatedand/Qr moistened. During or .before treatment the fabric :may have applied to it a pla tic or film fo ming ma r s h as y thetic resin or a cellulose ester so that this can h forced into the interstices between adjacent in which fine, regular lines having reflecting surfaces {are embossed on the whole surface of a particular type of fabric, these lines coinciding with the angle of twist of the yarns. Sch-reinering is designed to cover completely the surface of the fabric with an entirely new impression, thus obliterating its original appearance.

The effect of the numerous blades employed in thepresent invention is also to produce a loosening and'softening of the fabric. This is presumably due to a fine breaking action on the fibres andaslight disturbance from their original position. In the case of a mercerised fabric, to which the treatment may usefully be applied, there may possibly be an enhanced lustre due to this disturbance exposing fresh surfaces capable :of forming reflecting facets. There is also a marked closing effect observed. It may, in some cases, be desirable to put the fabric into a somewhat stiff and wiry condition before treatment, e. g. by a suitable prior chemby treating the fabric lengthwise, i. e. warpwise according to the invention.

-In practising the present invention, the fabric may be fed over a revolving cylinder, the surface of the cylinder serving as the support. When spacings maybe used, .depending upon the weave of the fabric to be treated. These dimensions will serve, however, for the treatment of fabrics having from, say, 60 to 80 picks per inch, but

the number of blades per inch may be made to coincidew-ith the weave of a fabric. The blades may be, for example, one inch long, 0.008 inch thick and 0.125 inch wide with the tips rounded or tapered-and rounded. They may be of tapered widththroughout their length but they are preferably of uniform cross section. If they are of uniform thickness and width their effective dimensions will remain substantially unaffected by wear. The friction upon the fabric tends to :cause them to retain their smooth condition;

The blades may be secured to a metalor other rod which is held in supports parallel to the axis of the cylinder. The rod may be resiliently mounted but is preferably mounted .so that the *ends of the blades can be pressed towards the .cylinderrwith any desired pressure. The blades are sufficient in number to extend over the whole length of the cylinder and may be arranged in sections if desired.

Six or more sets of blades maybe arranged at different parts of the periphery of the cylinder so that the fabric passes under all of them in succession. These may be so-mounted that the pressure ofthe first-set is greater than the pressure of succeeding ones, the pressure of the last being quite light. Theymay be so arranged that the pressure of each can be independently adjusted and/or-so that-the pressure of all may be simultaneously adjusted.

After passage over one unit the-fabric may :be led over another similar unit upon which the other surface of the fabric is similarly treated.

The cylinder or fabric supporting bed may-be heated if desired, by any means. 1

The cloth may be treated at 30/50 yards per minute. 1 I The fabric need not be supported on a cylinder during treatment of the blades. It may be supported on any other suitable bed which may be flat or convex or concave with respect to the blades. Such bed may be stationary or be in the form of a moving band or conveyor, the fabric being carried with it, if moving, or drawn i over it, if stationary, bytension. The bed may passing over the cylinder the outer surface of i the fabric is brought into frictional contact With a series of rows of thin, resilient, smooth-ended metal blades. The tips of the blades are pressed into contact with the fabric and the pressure may be adjustable to suit different types of fabric or in accordance with the effect desired. Prefirably the first row of blades exerts the greatest pressure, each succeeding row exerting a lesser pressure. The blades may be, for example, about /120 of an inch in thickness and about 1 20 of an inch apart but other thicknesses and.

be adjustable towards the blades, or in the case of a band forming the bed, this may apply pres* sure between the fabric and the blades, by tensicn. r

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: a --Fig. 1=is a rear elevation of one form of machine constructed in accordance with the. in-

vention;

Fig; 2'is a section on the line II -II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is'a view of the right hand end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1. I

. Fig-4 is a fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale; 1

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V--V'of Fig. 4;

Fig. dis a section on the line VI-VI of Fig.

4; and I Fig. '7 is adiagram showing one method of using the machine.

A steel roller II has a hard rubber facing Ha and a-shaft I lb either fixed thereto'or integrally formed therewith. Oppositeend portions of the shaft Hb are carried in bearings in frames l2 and l3 respectively. A geared electric motor I has its power; output shaft operatively; connected to a projection or extension of the appropriate portion of shaft IIb.

Six spindles I5 each have one end portion rotatably mounted in the frame I2 and a portion near its opposite end rotatably mounted in the frame I3. A clampable arcuate rack I6 is fixed to that end portion of each spindle I5 which projects beyond frame I3. A gear wheel I! is rotatably mounted on the frame 13. An adjustment member I 8 includes a disc portion which is bolted to the gear wheel and a dependent arm carrying a nut I9 swingably mounted therein and engageable by a screwed shank portion a of an adjustment rod 29 having a handle 20b. The adjustment rod 29 is mounted in a bearing 2| which is itself rotatably mounted in frame member !3. The teeth of the gear wheel I! are engageable with the teeth of each rack I6.

Each spindle I5 is longitudinally and radially slotted at l5a (Fig. 5) A multiplicity of closely spaced resilient smooth tipped blades 22 are fixed as by soldering or brazing in a longitudinally extending slot 23a of a rectangular bar 23. Opposite end portions 231) of each bar 23 (Fig. 6) present a curved outer surface 230. Two collars 24 having handles 24a and slotted at 241) are rotatably mounted in contact with frames I2 or I3 on each spindle I5. By rotation of the two collars so that their slots are coincident or aligned with the slot I5a in the appropriate spindle I5 the bar 23 may be placed in or removed from the slot I5a. Locking is effected by rotating the collar so that part of its inner periphery, which may be slightly eccentric to provide a cam action, bears radially inwards upon the curved surface 230 of the appropriate end portion of the bar 23 carrying blades 22.

By rotating the handle 20b of the adjustment rod 29, motion is transmitted by way of the nut l9 and the member It to effect partial rotation of the gear wheel I'i. Rotation of the gear wheel eifects simultaneous rotation of the six racks I6 and thereby of the spindles I5, so as to effect simultaneous variation of the angle of inclination of all of the sets of blades.

By clampably securing each rack to the appropriate shaft I5 it is possible to arrange an individual adjustment of the angle of inclination of one set of blades relative to all the other sets.

The machine is suitable for treating long continuous webs or for batch working. For the latter purpose (Fig. 7) a web 25 passes, from a quantity 25a carried on a delivery roll, between tensioning means such as pairs of nip rolls 26 and over guide rolls 2! so as to be presented tangentially to the cylinder II immediately in advance of the first set of blades 22. The web thereafter passes each successive set of blades and leaves the cylinder II immediately following contact with the last set of blades. It will be noted that all the blades are inclined so as to make contact with the moving web in a trailing inclined angle. Finally the web passes over further guide rolls 28 and is collected in a quan- ,tity 25?) on a take up roll.

The elements or comb-like formation need not necessarily be relatively stationary as shown in the annexed drawings. Such elements or comb-like formation may move in addition to movement of the fabric, for instance, by mounting one or more sets of elements or one or more comb-like formations on a roller or other rotary member.

The method of the invention serves to render the fabric soft and/or lustrous by causing smoothing action or burnishing pressure to follow the undulated surface of the fabric.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. A method of treating Woven textile material which consists in resiliently applying substantial pressure thereto by means of a comb-like formation relative to which said material is moved whilst firmly supporting said material from beneath, each blade of the said comb-like formation being smooth tipped so as to apply burnishing action to the fabric, the pressure being sufficient to cause the comb-like formation to press on to and below the normal surface of the fabric simultaneously.

2. A machine for treating woven textile ma terial comprising in combination a hard supporting base for the material, a plurality of thin closely spaced resilient smooth tipped blades, means to press said smooth tipped blades on to and below the normal surface of the material and means to move said material with the base and relative to the blades.

3. A machine for treating woven textile fabrics comprising in combination a hard rubber supporting base for the fabric, a plurality of rows of thin closely spaced, laterally resilient smooth tipped blades, a bar carrying said blades, a retary collar holding said bar at either end, cam means whereby said bar may be locked in position by rotating said collar and means for moving said fabric with the said base and relative to said blades.

4. A machine for treating woven textile material comprising in combination a hard supporting base for the material, a plurality of thin closely spaced resilient smooth tipped blades, a bar carrying said blades, a rotary collar holding said bar at either end, cam means whereby said bar may be locked in position by rotating said collar, means to press said smooth tipped blades on to and below the normal surface of the material and means to move said material with the base and relative to the blades.

5. A machine for treating woven textile fabric which consists of a supporting base for the fabric, a plurality of rows of thin closely spaced smooth tipped blades, a plurality of bars each carrying one row of said blades, a toothed Wheel adapted to be rotated by a predetermined amount, toothed sectors mounted on said bars engaging said toothed wheel so as to simultaneously adjust the inclinations of said blades to said base, and a means for moving said fabric with said base relative to said blades.

ALEXANDER MELVILLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 545,252 Schweiter Aug. 27, 1895 588,055 Dedicke Aug. 10, 1897 692,347 Redpath Feb. 4, 1902 872,489 Whitney Dec. 3, 1907 922,488 Lauterbach May 25, 1909 2,180,745 Milhomme Nov. 21, 1939 2,356,964 Alderfer Aug. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,128 Germany Dec. 29, 1880 422,393 France Jan. 17, 1911 

